Stop mechanism for sectionally adjustable beds



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Zmi Nov. 10, 1953 D. c. TRAVIS STOP MECHANISM FORSECTIONALLY ADJUSTABLE BEDS Filed March 25, 1949 0. c. TRAVIS 2,658,210STOP MECHANISM FOR SECTIONALLY ADJUSTABLE BEDS" Nov. 10, 1953 4Sheets$heet 2 Filed March '25, 1949 INVENTOR.

Nov. 10, 1953 D. c. TRAVIS STOP MECHANISM FOR SECTIONALLY ADJUSTABLEBEDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 25, 1949 ENTOR.

illlllllllll Nov. 10, 1953 D. c. TRAVIS STOP MECHANISM FOR SECTIONALLYADJUSTABLE BEDS Filed March 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Nov. 10,1953 STOP MECHANISM FORv SECTIONALLY ADJUSTABLE BEDS Don Carlos Travis,Kenosha, Wis'.,- assignor to SimmonsCompany, Kenosha, Wis;, a corpora--tion of:Delaware Application March 25, 1949, Serial'No'. 83,475

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a bed of the type wherein the bed bottomcomprises several articulated sections which are adapted to be shiftedinto relatively different angular positions in order to attain varyingpostures of a body reposed on said bed bottom.

In beds of this type the swinging of certain of the sections is attainedby a well-known form of crank-operated extension means. For the headendsection one of the positions particularly desired is downwardly disposedwith respect to the horizontal. However, in certain cases it isimportant that the head-end section be never disposed downwardly withrespect to the horizontal except intentionally.

For the foot-end section it is desired to secure as strong a brace aspossible for the section in any of its positions.

The main objects of this invention, therefore,- are to provide amulti-section posture-spring bed with improved means for effectingcertain angular dispositions of the head-end and foot-end sections; toprovide an improved form of stop mechanism for regulating thebelow-the-horizontal angular-disposition of one of the end sections of amulti-section articulated bed bottom; to provide an improved stopmechanism of this kind which normally limits the downward swinging ofsaid one end section to a horizontal position but which stop mechanismmay be manually retracted to permit said one end section to be swungintentionally into a below-the-horizontal inclined position; to providean improved stop mechanism for this kind which can be manually retractedand latched in a retracted position so as to permit the cranking of saidend section to a below-the-horizontal inclined position; to provideimproved means for automatically releasing said stop mechanism from itslatch-retracted position when said bed bottom section has been moved toa below-the-horizontal position whereby, following the return of saidbed bottom section to a horizontal position, said stop mechanism willnormally prevent said bed-bottom section from again. being shifted to aibelow-the-horizontal position until said stop mechanism has again beenmanually shifted to and latched in its retracted position; to provide animproved form of brace means for positioning and rigidly maintaining afoot-end section at an angular position relative to the other bed-bottomsections and the main supporting frame; and to provide angular-disposingmeans of' this kind which are inexpensive to manufacture, capable ofeasy installation on beds of previous construction, and positive inoperation.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a multi-section, articulated bed bottom andsupporting frame embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, the bed bottom sections beingshown in full line in their coplanar relationship but with the head-endsection shown in dotted outline in its slightly elevated position, whichpermits a retraction of the motion limiting mechanism for the head-endsection;

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the several bed-bottom sections in relativelydifferent angular positions generally designated as the hyper-extensionposition, the Fowler position, and the shock or Trendelenburg position,respectively;

Figs. 6, 7,. and 8 illustrate the normal, retracted, and cam-releasingpositions respectively of 'the motion-limiting mechanism for the headendsection;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the. aforesaid mechanism;

Fig. 1(1v is a perspective view of theconstruction shown. in Figs". 1and.2 but mounted on head and foot ends; and with the bed-bottomsections in the-angular positions shown in Fig. 5;

11 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved adjustable supportmeans whereby the foot-end section is :disposed in the positions shownin the several figures.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken. along theline l2-l2 of Fig. 1, illustrating particularly the actuating mechanismfor adjusting the intermediate section of the bedbottom, and theadjustable support means for the foot-endsection.

Figure 13'is an enlarged sectional elevational view taken along the line13-43 of Fig. 12, and

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional elevational view of the head end ofthe bed-bottom, taken along the. line [4-H of Fig. 1, furtherillustrating the relation of the motion-limiting mechanism to the headend section and to the supporting frame.

An improved, angularly adjustable bed embodying the invention inpreferred form comprises a frame l5 upon which is mounted amultisection, articulated bed bottom l6, operable by conventionalscrew-jack actuating mechanisms I1, and equipped with a head-end sectionmotionlimiting means l8 and a foot-endsection adjustable support meansIS.

The bed frame l5 comprises the conventional side rails 20 and 2| betweenwhich extend the cross-braces 22, 23 and 24, and which mount end-locks25 of the type shown in copending application Ser. No. 3,891, filedJanuary 23, 1948, now Patent No. 2,566,541, whereby the frame may besecured to head and foot ends 26 and 21, respectively (Fig. The siderails and 2| and the cross braces 22, 23 and 24 are preferably of angleiron construction. Intermediate the ends of the side rails 20 and 2|standards or brackets 28 are secured whereon is swingably mounted thebed bottom I6.

The bed bottom l6 as herein shown, comprises a head-end section 29, afoot-end section 39, and a pair of intermediate sections 3| and 32,whereto is attached the conventional mattress supporting fabric 33.These bed-bottom sections are of the usual angle iron construction.Between the lateral side of sections 29, 30 and 3| respectively, extendbraces or spreader bars 34, and 35.

The head-end section 29 is pivoted at 31 to the standards 28 so that itmay be swung above and below a horizontal position parallel with theframe I5. The foot-end section 30 is pivoted at 38 to the intermediatesection 3| which, in turn, is pivoted at 39 to the standards 28 and saidsections may be shifted into various angular relationships with respectto each other and with respect to the supporting frame |5. Theintermediate section 3|, however, is prevented from being lowered belowthe horizontal by a pair of upwardly extending pedestals 36a which aresecured to the frame cross-bar 23 and which engage one of the spreaderbars 36 when the intermediate section is horizontal.

The bed-bottom section 32 is a short one rigidly secured to the upperends of the standards 28 between the pivots 3! and 39.

The extension mechanisms comprise conventional screw jacks 40 and 4|connected respectively to an arm 40a secured to one of a pair of rockerarms 42 and to an arm 43 and operated by folding, non-detachable cranks44 and 45 (see Figs. 2 and 10). The rocker arms 42 are supported on ajack shaft 49 on the frame l5 and each arm has a roller 41 at its upperend which travels on the underside of one of the lateral angle-bar sidesof the head-end section 29. The arm 43 is rigidly secured to one of thespreader bars 36 for the intermediate bed-bottom section 3| (Figs. 12and 13).

The head-end section angular-positioning means I8 comprises a U-shapedstop member 48, a latch 49, and a tension spring 50 (Fig. 9).

The U-shaped member 48 is suspended on pivots 5| from the headwardunderside of the headend section 29. The member 48 is normally urged bythe spring 59 which is connected at one of its ends to a side of themember 48 below the pivot 5|, and at its other end to the head endsection 29 (Fig. 14) so that the abutment of the shoulder 52 (see Fig.6) against the horizontal flange of the side member of the head-endsection 29 disposes the member in a vertical position directly over thebrace 22 of the frame l5 (Fig. 2). In this position the member 48 abutsthe brace 22 and prevents the head-end bed-bottom section 29 from beinginadvertently shifted into a position below the horizontal.

The latch 49, as most clearly shown in Fig. 9, is in the form of a U 53depending from a stem 54. The latch 49 is pivoted at 55 on the bedbottom 29 so as to be normally urged by gravity to occupy a positionparallel to the member 48. When the member 48 is retracted against theaction of the spring 50 the latch 49 may be shifted so that the U-shapedpart 53 will engage a shoulder 56 on the adjacent side of the member 48.

Shoulders 51 on the cross brace 22 prevent displacement of the member48, headwardly of the bed, out of its vertical position when it isresting on the brace 22. The head-end section would have to be elevatedslightly to permit the member 43 to be shifted deliberately oraccidentally.

The pivots 5| and 55 of the stop member 48 and latch 49 are sopositioned on the side rail of the head-end section 29 with respect tothe cross brace 22 of the frame l5, that when the member 48 is held inits retracted position by the latch 49, as shown in Fig. 'I, and thehead-end section 29 is swung below the horizontal, the cross brace 22will engage and cam the stop member 48 headwardly of the frame I5 anddisengage the shoulder 56 from the latch 49, whereupon the latch 49returns by gravity to a vertically depending position (Fig. 8). Thus,when the head-end section 29 is restored to a position slightly abovethe horizontal, the spring 50 will dispose the member 48 so that upon asubsequent lowering of the head-end section 29, said head-end sectioncannot be accidentally lowered below the horizontal.

The adjustable support means IQ for the footend section 30 comprises apair of links 58, a pair of struts 59, and a pair of arms 58 connectedby a rod 6|.

Each link 5a is hinged to the intermediate bed-bottom section 3| on apivot 38 which connects the foot-end section 30 and the intermediatesection 3|. The lower end of each link 58 is provided with a roller 58awhich rests upon the inwardly extending flange 58b of a short length ofangle iron secured to the inner face of the side wall 28 or 2| (Fig.12).

The struts 59 are of arcuate form and at their ends are riveted orotherwise bonded one to each of the links 58 intermediate the ends ofthe respective link. Notches 63 are formed on the upper edge of each ofthe struts 59.

The arms 63 are pivoted at 86 to the foot-end section 30 so that the rod6| connecting these arms may engage one or another of the notches 63 onthe struts 59 and determine the angularity of the foot-end section 38with respect to the intermediate section 3|, and consequently withrespect to the frame l5.

Such an arrangement of the struts 59 obviates the necessity of notchesin the links 58, as heretofore have been employed, and provides a muchstronger support for the foot-end section 30, even though the lin.:s 58may be made of lighter weight material than heretofore was possible.

The operation of the head-end section angularpositioning mechanism I8 isas follows:

Normally, the stop member 48 is disposed at right angles to the plane ofthe head-end bedbottom section 29, being held in that position by theco-action of the spring 50 which urges the shoulder 52 into abument withthe underside of the head-end section 29. In such position the member 48is disposed over the cross brace 22 of the frame I5. Thus, whenever thehead-end section 29 is lowered it will not be permitted to go below itshorizontal position with respect to the frame |5. If, when occasionrequires, it is desired to dispose the head-end section 29 at an anglebelow the horizontal, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 10, it will first benecessary for the attendant to operate the crank 44 to slightly elevatethe head-end bed-bottom section 29, to the position shown in dottedoutline in Fig. 2. This will raise the stop member 48 clear of theshoulders '51 and permit the attendant to swing the member 48 headwardlyof the head-end section 29 against the action of the spring 50 and atthe same time shift the latch 49 so as to bring the U-shaped part 53into contact with the shoulder 56. The spring 56 maintains the U-shapedpart 53 and the shoulder 56 in frictional engagement, as shown in Fig.'7. Thereupon the attendant may resume the cranking of the extensionelement 44 so as to move the bed-bottom section 29 into the positionshown in Figs. 3, and 10.

As the head-end section 29 moves into the below-the-horizontal position,the brace 22 engages the member 48, as shown in Fig. 8, and cams thestop member 48 out of contact with the latch 49, permitting the latchmembers to return by gravity to a vertically depending position. Thus,when the bed-bottom section 29 is restored to a position slightly abovethe horizontal, the spring 50 will shift the member 48 into the positionshown in Figs. 2 and 6 so that it will be impossible for an attendant toinadvertently or carelessly lower the head-end section 29 below thehorizontal until the member 48 again has been shifted into its retractedposition.

The operation of the adjustable foot section supporting means I9 isbelieved to be apparent from the drawings and may be described brieflyas follows: is swung upwardly about the pivots 39 by means of thescrew-jack 4|, the end of the link 58 which is attached to theintermediate section 3| at the pivot 38 is raised and the roller 58a atthe footward end of the link 58 moves along the track or flange 58btoward the head of the bed. The effect of this movement is a partialrotation of the foot section 30 and its support IS in a clockwisedirection, as viewed in Fig. 2, the end of the foot section which isattached to the intermediate section being elevated, and the free end ofthe foot section, partially overhanging the footward end of the link 58,being slightly lowered. The foot section 30 may also be adjustedindependently of the intermediate section 3| by manually lifting thefoot section and engaging the bar 6! with a different one of the notches63 in the strut 59. It will be understood, however, that irrespective ofthe position of the foot section 30 relative to its support l9, anyadjustment of the intermediate section 3| will be accompanied by acorresponding movement of the foot section 30 and its support l9, as aunit, relative to the frame 15.

Variations and modifications in the details of structure and arrangementof the parts may be resorted to within the spirit and coverage of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, a bed bottom section hinged on said frame for swinging movementrelative thereto, a stop member hingedly depending from said section andurged to a position thereon to normally abut said frame when said bedbottom section occupies a predetermined position relative to said frame,thereby to prevent downward movement of said bed bottom section belowsaid predetermined position, said stop member being shiftable to anon-abutting position to permit said bed bottom section to be movedbelow said predetermined position, a shoulder formed on said stopmember, a normally retracted latch member pivotally mounted on saidsection adjacent said stop member and adapted to be manually shifted toengage said shoulder to hold said When the intermediate section 3l stopmember in said non-abutting position, said stop member in saidnon-abutting position being cammingly engageable with said frame bymovement of said section below said predetermined position thereby todisengage said stop member from said latch member and to permit saidstop member to resume said abutting position when said bed bottomsection is subsequently raised above said predetermined position.

2. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supportstructure, a bed bottom structure hinged on said support structure forswinging movement relative thereto, stop means movably connected to oneof said structures and urged to a position thereon to abut the other ofsaid structures when said bed bottom structure occupies a predeterminedposition relative to said support structure, thereby to prevent downwardmovement of said bed bottom structure below said predetermined position,said stop means be ing manually shiftable to a non-abutting posi-- tionto permit said bed bottom structure to be lowered below saidpredetermined position, latch means interposable between said onestructure and said stop means and being connected to at least one ofthem, said latch means when so interposed serving to hold said stopmeans in said non-abutting position, one of said means being engageableby said other structure to disable said latch means when said bed bottomstructure is moved below said predetermined position, thereby to permitsaid stop means to resume said abutting position when said bed bottomstructure is subsequently raised above said predetermined position.

3. In a bed of the class described, the combination of a supportingframe, a bed bottom section hinged on said frame for swinging movementrelative thereto, a stop member pivoted on said bed bottom section andurged to a position thereon to abut said frame when said bed bottomsection occupies a predetermined position relative to said frame therebyto prevent downward movement of said bed botttom section below saidpredetermined position, said stop member being manually shiftable to anon-abutting position to permit said section to be lowered below saidpredetermined position, a latch member interposable between said stopmember and said bed bottom section and being movably connected to atleast one of them, said latch member when so interposed being efiectiveto hold said stop member in said non-abutting position, one of saidmembers being engageable with said frame to disable said latch memberwhen said bed bottom section is moved below said predetermined position,thereby to permit said stop member to resume said abutting position whensaid bed bottom section is subsequently raised above said predeterminedposition.

DON CARLOS TRAVIS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,567 Wooley Apr. 16, 1842 597,480 Fellows Jan. 18, 18981,573,530 Weaver Feb. 16, 1926 1,790,435 Muller Jan. 27,1931 2,026,153Wright et a1 Dec. 31, 1935 2,215,636 Comper Sept. 24, 1940

